Senior Accountant

Zane State College • Zanesville Campus, OH

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Accountant provides critical technical expertise in accounting and financial reporting. This role ensures the integrity of the College’s financial records and supports compliance, audit readiness, and informed decision-making through accurate and consistent financial data. The Senior Accountant is responsible for general ledger accounting, financial reporting, reconciliations, and audit support for Zane State College. This role ensures the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of the College’s financial records. The position operates as a highly skilled individual contributor, providing technical accounting expertise and supporting the overall financial reporting framework of the institution. The Senior Accountant plays a critical role in maintaining compliance with accounting standards and supporting internal and external reporting requirements. This role works closely with the Chief Financial Officer, Senior Director of Fund Accounting and Budget (SDFAB), and Senior Director of Finance & Business Operations to ensure alignment between financial activity, reporting, and budget structure.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field
• Experience with general ledger accounting and reconciliations.
• Superior efficiency with Microsoft Office Excel, Pivot Tables, and other financial and analytical tools.
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to draft polished, error-free professional documents, meeting minutes, and executive-level correspondence.
• Attention to detail and strong analytical skills.
• Exceptional ability to plan, prioritize, and coordinate multiple projects, calendars, and deadlines in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Sound judgment in handling highly sensitive, confidential, and politically nuanced information with absolute discretion.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships across all levels of the institution and with external community partners and stakeholders.
• Must stay updated on federal and state regulations, tax laws, and accounting standards to ensure all financial operations comply with legal requirements.
• Preparing documentation for audits and assisting with tax filings

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in accounting preferred
• Experience in higher education or public sector preferred

Responsibilities

• Maintain and oversee the integrity of the general ledger within Jenzabar One
• Ensure accurate recording and classification of financial transactions
• Review and post journal entries as needed
• Monitor account activity and resolve discrepancies
• Perform and review reconciliations for ALL balance sheet accounts to ensure every account is understood, supported, and signed off.
• Investigate and resolve reconciling items in a timely manner
• Ensure all reconciliations are documented and maintained
• Prepare internal financial reports and supporting schedules
• Assist in the preparation of financial statements
• Support reporting needs for leadership, departments, and external stakeholders
• Ensure consistency and accuracy in financial data
• Prepare financial data and schedules to support year-end reporting and external compliance submissions (e.g., Auditor of State reporting), in coordination with the Senior Director of Fund Accounting and Budget (SDFAB)
• Serve as a primary point of contact for external auditors
• Prepare audit schedules, documentation, and supporting materials
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards and institutional policies
• Assist in implementing audit recommendations as needed
• Coordinate and oversee journal entries across all functional areas.
• Reconcile financial aid activity to the general ledger, ensuring that aid postings are accurately reflected in the GL and that no discrepancies exist between Financial Aid records and institutional financial data
• Record fixed asset additions directly in the GL — debiting Fixed Assets and crediting the appropriate income statement account.
• Depreciate assets in accordance with the College’s depreciation schedule; record depreciation entries and maintains the fixed asset schedule
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Fund Accounting and Budget (SDFAB) to align budget data with actual financial activity and support accurate reporting of budget-to-actual performance
• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Finance & Business Operations to ensure operational transactions are recorded accurately and address discrepancies between operational activity and financial records
• Support development and maintenance of accounting processes and procedures
• Ensure documentation of key workflows related to financial reporting and reconciliations
• Promote consistency in accounting practices
• Maintain working knowledge of Jenzabar One financial system
• Ensure data integrity within the general ledger
• Support system improvements related to accounting and reporting
• Document existing accounting processes and procedures
• Support knowledge transfer during transition and onboarding of future staff
• Provide guidance as needed during transition of responsibilities
• Actively model, champion, and embed a culture of respect throughout every dimension of divisional leadership.
• Demonstrate and promote respect for the dignity, perspectives, and contributions of all individuals, including students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners.
• Create and sustain an inclusive and equitable divisional climate that values diverse backgrounds, identities, experiences, and viewpoints.
• Address conflict, misconduct, and concerns in a fair, transparent, and timely manner consistent with college policies and values.
• Actively teach, model, and reinforce the Three R's — Respect, Responsiveness, and Responsibility — to influence the development of professional behaviors among faculty, staff, and students.
• Uphold the College's non-discrimination and equal opportunity commitments in all decisions.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Comprehensive healthcare plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage
• HSA/FSA
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life and long-term disability insurance
• Supplemental retirement savings plans
• Generous paid time off including vacation, sick, and personal leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior